0810 THORNTON First dive bombing attack ended.
0810 CUMMINGS Commenced preparation for getting underway in accordance
general signal. Opened fire main battery on dive bombers over BBs.
0810 Enemy aircraft bomb struck hangar and aircraft parking space adjacent to
VP-24 parking area. Ready plane suffered a severed wing spar. Plane
was then machine gunned and caught fire. Fire was extinguished and
plane has been repaired and is in service. Plane undergoing structural
changes not damaged and is now operating. Personnel present mounted
machine guns in available planes and opened fire on attacking planes.
One low-winged biplane flying from across hangar 54 on course about 250
lost both wings.
0810 NEW ORLEANS All batteries NEW ORLEANS except 8" battery in
action. Area around berths 14-19 incl. subjected to dive bombing attack
by approximately ten enemy planes. Attack turned away by combined
fire of HONOLULU and NEW ORLEANS. Observed three bombs drop:
one falling ahead of and another falling astern of the RIGEL. These
failed to explode. Third bomb landed midway between RIGEL and NEW
ORLEANS exploding and causing damage from flying fragments. During
raid yard power failed or was cut off leaving vessel in darkness without
power except auxiliary battery power. Heavy drain of machinery raising
steam for getting underway exhausted auxiliary batteries so much that
lighting was very dim and of practically no use. All work in engineering
spaces, magazines and ammunition passageways conducted by flashlight.
Hoists and guns worked by hand with consequent reduction of volume of
fire. AA directors were off ship.
0810 UTAH Listed 80 to port mooring lines parting and two minutes
later ship capsized. Ship abandoned.
0810 UTAH Capsized. Salvage operations undertaken immediately in order
to rescue entrapped personnel. 32 men thus rescued. Estimated num-
ber of torpedoes to hit ship about 5; no bombs were observed to have
hit.
0810 PHOENIX mg battery opened fire on attacking planes.
0810 DEWEY Guns 1-2-3 and 5 5", no power on ship.
0810 HELM Fire from port machine gun hit plane approaching from South.
Plane observed to veer sharply, catch on fire and crash behind trees near
Hickam Field. Damage to enemy: 1 plane shot down by machine gun fire.
0810 CASSIN Observed Japanese plane crash over tree near hospital. Five
high altitude, 12,000 ft. bombers passed overhead from forward aft and
dropped large bombs.
0810 PRUITT Observed OKLAHOMA roll over.
0810 GAMBLE Commenced making preparations to get underway. Lighted
off four boilers.
0810 CALIFORNIA Opened fire with 5" guns on dive bombers.
0810 W. VIRGINIA Commanding Officer, Captain M. S. Bennion mortally wounded.
0810 WHITNEY Set condition affirm. Commenced firing with 3" A. A. guns.
0810 JARVIS Counted 6 or 7 torpedoes in OKLAHOMA, NEVADA, WEST
VIRGINIA, and ARIZONA also torpedoed. Apparently ARIZONA for-
warded magazine exploded. Noted OGLALA torpedoed alongside HEL-
ENA at 10-10 dock.
0810 REID Opened fire with after machine guns.
0810 WHITNEY No material or personnel damage.
0810 PELIAS Reports formation of high altitude planes came in from S. W.
attacking battleships and Ford Island followed by another wave from
the same direction. Torpedo planes were small and carried only one
bomb. Dive bombers also small and carried but one bomb.
0810 RAIL At coal docks nested with 4 minesweeps. Opened fire with 3" A. A.
15 minutes after first bomb dropped on Pearl. Opened fire with .30
machine guns, rifles and pistols 20 minutes after first attack. A string
of 20 bombs fell in channel astern. Shrapnel fell throughout ship. No
material or personnel damage.
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0812 MUGFORD OGLALA listing to port. Attack started again. Heavy A. A. fire.
0812 OUTGOING Hostilities with Japan commenced with air raid on Pearl.
0812 COMSECTOR FOUR: Sector 4 Prepare to get underway.
0812 HULL All machine guns plus two automatic rifles on the bridge and one
on after deck, firing.
0812 RIGEL Torpedo planes attacked from S. E. at 500 feet and
attacked BBs from altitude 125 feet, range 300 to 500 yards.
0812 Task Force 8 received message from CinC Air Raid on Pearl Harbor. This
is no drill. This time about coincided with expected arrival ENTER-
PRISE planes at Pearl. Task Force Comdr. first concerned that planes
were assumed to be unfriendly by harbor defenses. It was not until
subsequent dispatches were received that it was realized hostilities with
Japan had begun. TF-8 operated in area South Kaula Rock for air
attack should enemy be located North or South of Oahu. No authentic
information available regarding location. Maintained combat and inner
air patrols.
0812 SICARD Undergoing overhaul in Navy Yard stbd side to PRUITT Berth
18. Shp totally disabled as to main and auxiliary machinery and gun
battery. Observed Squadron of Japanese planes coming in from South-
west, diving from 5,000 feet on Ford Island.
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0813 CONYNGHAM Observed attacking plane shot down by fire from nest.
Plane crashed near CURTISS.
0813 HELM Passed gate vessel.
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0815 Aircraft in flight informed hostilities with Japan commenced with air
raid on Pearl. VP-21 directed to search sector 240-280 for carriers. Ten
miles south of Barbers Point plane 24VP-4 sighted unidentified sub-
marine near force consisting of INDIANAPOLIS and 4 destroyers.
Submarine made crash dive and spot marked by float lights. Completed
search through 200 miles and returned to Pearl.
0815 PENNA Reports NEVADA underway and about on PENNA stbd qtr.
Distance about 600 yards when dive bombing attack observed approach-
ing PENNA on port bow. 10 or 15 planes coming in succession just
before reaching PENNA 2/3 planes appeared to swerve to left. Number
of them dropping bombs at the NEV. 1 dive bomber dropped bomb on
SHAW in floating dry dock and set it on fire. NEV observed to slowly
swing around head to port broadside to channel, on fire forward.
0815 VIREO Observed 2nd Group of enemy planes fly toward Hickam Field.
VIREO opened fire expending 22 rounds 3" A. A. ammunition.
0815 RIGEL Undergoing major repairs and conversion at Navy Yard. No
motive power available. All power etc. from yard. Air attack began.
As this vessel had no armament no offensive action could be taken.
Accordingly rescue work was commenced on WEST VIRGINIA
personnel. About 100 men (in track of burning oil) had been blown
into the water. These were rescued first. The torpedo bombing and
machine gun. [34] assaults on the WEST VIRGINIA continued
while the rescue operations progressed. One rescue boat was struck by
bomb and sunk. Crew thrown into water.
Moored B-13 Navy Yard undergoing major repairs. Services from Navy Yard.
0815 SICARD Set condition of readiness "AFFIRM". 2 fire parties were
formed fore and aft.
0815 MUGFORD Shot down one enemy plane bearing astern making approach
on battleship at altitude 20 feet off water. Plane crashed on Ford
Island aflame, torpedo not launched.
0815 PHOENIX AA Battery opened fire.
0815 CASSIN Observed another group of 6 high altitude bombers passed over-
head and let loose bombs.
0815 PRUITT Observed 12 bombing planes in close "V" formation bombed
(horizontal attack) from 10,000 feet from Southwest.
0815 JARVIS All guns and machine guns of JARVIS in action.
MUGFORD noted to be delivering high volume of fire.
0815 SUMNER Checked fire.
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0817 CINCPAC Directed Compatwing TWO locate enemy force.
0817 HELM Sighted conning tower of submarine to right of channel, North-
ward of buoy #1. Gave orders to open fire, pointer fire, but submarine
submerged before guns could get on.
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0818 CONYNGHAM Opened fire with remaining 5" guns at horizontal bombers
passing overhead in direction of Schofield Barracks.
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0820 TRACY Sent men to CUMMINGS to assist batteries and approximate
15 men to PENNA to fight fires.
0820 HELM Opened fire on submarine off Tripod Reef, no hits observed.
Submarine appeared to be touching bottom on ledge of reef, and in line
of breakers. Steering motor short circuited bridge lost steering
control.
0820 SICARD Was manned. 2 .30 cal. M. G. s. Bombers began to
attack ships at 1010 dock and battleships in vicinity of Ford Island.
SICARD hits were observed on planes but no apparent damage was
done.
0820 VESTAL Observed torpedo pass astern and hit ARIZONA. Simulta-
neously ARIZONA received bomb hit followed by her forward maga-
zine exploding. Latter started fires aft and amidship of VESTAL.
Shortly after that, ARIZ observed to be settling and fuel oil between
VESTAL and ARIZ ignited.
0820 PYRO Opened fire on planes.
0820 MUGFORD Opened fire with 5"/38 battery.
0820 SUMNER Ship ready for getting underway. Members of broadside
gun crew and available engineers were armed with rifles and BAR's
and stationed in upper works to act as snipers.
0820 CALIFORNIA Torpedo struck port side, frame 47, making an irregular
hole 27 x 32 ft., the top of which is 6 ft. below bottom of armor belt.
0820 SOLACE Reports boat loads of casualties began to arrive. By this time
all hospital supplies and facilities had been prepared for maximum
service.
0820 NEVADA Attack slackened.
0820 REID Opened fire with after 5"/38 caliber on high altitude and dive
bombers.
0820 WHITNEY Observed Japanese plane fall in flames north channel vicin-
ity X-5.
0820 CUMMINGS Lull in air attack; ceased firing. Lack of DC power pre-
vented use of director. Sound powered telephones and local control
used.
0820 HULBERT Claims share in bringing down a bomber.
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0821
HELM Observed torpedo pass close under stern on a northerly course.
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0825 TRACY Ready to open fire with 3 .30 caliber.
0825 MUGFORD Signal received that parachutists or wrecked pilots were
landing in Hickam Field.
0825 CALIFORNIA Opened fire on horizontal bombers at 10,000 ft. with 5"
guns.
0825 BREESE Received signal to get underway but being inside nest could
not do so.
0825 Outgoing To COMTASKGR 12 & COMTASKGR 8: Report
position.
0825 SUMNER Opened fire on ten dive bombers attacking Navy Yard Dry
Dock. These planes approached from cloud bank in Southeast. Hear
terrific explosion in Navy Yard-vicinity of Dry Dock followed by
dense cloud of smoke. Dive bomber passed 300 yards from SUMNER
and DD's HULBERT and THORNTON, tail of plane ignited. Plane
turned southward and disappeared over Halawa district. Observed
six horizontal bombers approaching from southeast at 8,000 feet.
Planes circled and approached Ford Island from Southwest and
dropped bombs over DD's. Planes then circled to Southeast. One
plane left it's formation, turned towards Navy Yard loosing altitude
rapidly, passed SUMNER at 400 feet altitude range 600 yards, was
fired on by SUMNER. When over center Southeast Loch, plane be-
gan smoking and was lost in thick smoke over Navy Yard. It was a
two-seater monoplane, gunner in rear seat protected by shield, orange
disc on side just abaft rear cockpit.
0825 CURTISS Attacked by bombers.
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0827
SICARD Cease firing, expended 300 rounds .30 cal. MG ammunition.
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0830 PENNSY Lighted fires under #4 boiler.
0830 CONYNGHAM Reports another plane diving toward Ford Island from
Northeast shot down by combined fire of the nest.
0830 PENNA Reports about 5 high bombing attacks obs. to have passed over
PENNA. One from port bow one from ahead one from ahead to stbd
2 from astern. Altitude about 2000 feet.
0830 VIREO Brought down one enemy plane which landed in vicinity of
Hickam Field. 400 rounds of .30 cal. M. G. ammunition expended.
One personnel casualty to PRICE, Radioman, on telephone watch astern
of vessel. PRICE returned to duty 10 December. No damage to vessel.
Made ready to get underway.
0830 VESTAL prepared to get underway.
0830 MUGFORD Five enemy planes in V formation passed directly over
head, making horizontal bombing attack.
0830 SUMNER Checked fire.
0830 RIGEL 15 Heavy bombers in 3-V formations 8 to 10 thousand feet from
S. E. bombed BB's.
0830 WHITNEY Issued ammunition and ordnance stores to destroyers along
side. Secured steam to destroyers.
0830 HELM Fired at enemy plane with forward machine guns. May have hit
plane.
0830 NEVADA Heavy bombing attack received.
0830 HULL Two Vee's high level bombers (10,000 feet) directly overhead seen
intermittently through the clouds. Opened fire with all guns. Forma-
tions broke up and dropped their bombs in cane field.
0830 CALIFORNIA Opened fire on Dive bombers with T5" and forward ma-
chine guns; shot down one enemy dive bomber which crashed in flames.
0830 BREESE Sighted conning towers of two submarines in North channel
but could not open fire because of interior berth. Observed MONAGHAN
proceed down channel at full speed to ram leading submarine which had
just fired torpedo at U. S. S CURTISS but missed, U. S. S. MONAGHAN
dropped 2 depth charges and submarine, about 250 ton type arose upside
down and sank.
0830 ZANE Sighted strange submarine 200 yards astern of MEDUSA moored
in K-23. Guns would not bear as ZANE was inboard ship.
0830 CASSIN Received signal from PENNSYLVANIA, Senior destroyer officer
report on board.
0830 HENLEY underway from buoy X-11, Large bomb struck water 150
yards from port bow. Received signal "submarine in harbor".
MACDONOUGH directly ahead made depth charge attack and cleared
at high speed. HENLEY was third ship in sortie. After rounding Hospital
Point, subjected to straffing attack by light bomber, coming up from
astern and showing five distinct sources of machine gun fire from plane
as plane passed ship. It was seen to crash offshore in a few minutes.
Another light bomber approached from starboard at 2,000 feet and was
taken under fire with another destroyer. Close burst forces plane to
dive and it crashed into sea.
0830 DOWNES Open fire with 5-inch. on blocks. DOWNES struck on after
deck house by bombs.
0830 RIGEL Captain returned on board. Bomb struck astern and midway
between piers 13 & 14. 150 small holes were blown into port quarter
RIGEL. Above waterline.
0830 CURTIS Ready to get underway. Sighted submarine periscope
on starboard quarter, distance 700 yards. Opened fire on submarine.
0830 REID First group of enemy planes taken under fire of REID
with forward 5" and .50 caliber machine guns,
0830 Outgoing To NPL RDO SAN DIEGO & NPM RDO WAILUPE: 1 must have
instantaneous relay for my dispatches.
0830 COM-14 To NAS Pearl: Hostile Japanese air attack X Hickam Field
bombed X stay clear this area as long as gas permits X keep in
contact this station.
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0832 CALIFORNIA Reported one enemy plane shot down over Ford Island.
0832 SICARD Observed 4 flights horizontal bombers attacking battleships,
followed by 8 torpedo bombers. OKLAHOMA struck by several tor-
pedoes, took heavy list to Stbd and capsized. ARIZONA struck by tor-
pedoes and heavy bomb.
0832 PYRO Observed enemy planes crash and burst into flame towards Barbers
Point. Pilots bailed out. Observed damage to ship which consisted of
broken steam line; repaired by ship's force.
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0835 SICARD Sent working party 20 men to CUMMINGS to handle ammuni-
tion, and 4 gunner's mates to NEW ORLEANS to assist her battery.
10 men previously detailed to PENNSYLVANIA to assist damage control.
0835 BOBOLINK Moved out of next and to first buoy. Observed Japanese
plane crash near Hickam Field. Believe it result of minesweeper firing.
0835 PREBLE Reports first phase of attack completed
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0838
MUGFORD W. V. burning. ARIZONA on fire. Tugs trying to pull
overturned OKLA clear. USS VESTAL clearing NEVADA.
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0840 CALIFORNIA Shaken by 4 near bomb hits and splintered considerably
by fragments.
0840 CURTISS Submarine surfaced and fired one torpedo up North
Channel toward destroyers. Conning tower hit twice by gun #3.
0840 CURTIS Ceased firing on submarine and observed MONAGHAN drop
2 depth charges. Air bubbles and slick appeared.
0840 CUMMINGS Opened fire to repel strafing attack. Glide bomber
observed to veer away from ship with smoke trailing, passed over new
boiler shop and disappeared in smoke.
0840 JARVIS Noted NEVADA underway and standing out. Dive bombed, hit
several times and beached. SHAW hit and caught on fire in drydock.
Two destroyers in drydock with PENNSYLVANIA hit.
0840 TREVER Ready for getting underway. TREVER could not clear be-
cause other ships astern were clearing buoys D-3 and D-4. Enemy
plane brought down vicinity of Pearl City. Second plane brought down
200 yards off Beckoning Point.
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0842
MUGFORD USS VESTAL clear of NEVADA.
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0845 PHOENIX Ship ready to get underway.
0845 SICARD Observed attack broken off.
0845 VESTAL Observed ARIZONA quarterdeck awash. With no steering
gear VESTAL got underway while tug pulled her bow away from
ARIZONA. Starting to list to Stbd VESTAL was maneuvered into
position with South end of McGrews Point bearing 30 distance 910 yds.
0845 MUGFORD Executed signal to get underway to Task Forces One and Two.
Tugs pulled OGLALA clear of HELENA.
0845 CALIFORNIA Commander Stone, executive officer, arrived and assumed
command of CALIFORNIA. Combatfor returned on board.
0845 CACHALOT Dive bomb and straffing attacks made by enemy.
0845 HULL Second attack. All attacks except one was broken up. One
formation of three planes continued on. Two of these were shot down;
one by USS DOBBIN and one by the next of ships. Two bombs landed
astern of next, close to side of DOBBIN.
0845 CASTOR Ready to get underway.
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0850 MUGFORD W. VA. listed heavily to port.
0850 ZANE Reports MONAGHAN approached and depth charged submarine.
Enemy plane brought down flying over nest, struck deperming station.
0850 SUMNER Dispatched ship's boats to Ford Island to assist in hauling am-
munition.
0850 DOWNES Hit again by bombs and set on fire. Abandoned ship.
0850 COMDESFLOT 1 To DESPLOT 1: Desdiv TWO establish Offshore
patrol.
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0851 MUGFORD Executed signal to get underway and sortie according to
plan E-S.
0851 COM-14 To Cincpac. Submarine reported in Pearl Harbor for Sector
Comdrs.
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0854
MUGFORD Attack started again from North.
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